Ballot count low
as May 16 nears

In spite of the three-way race for Hood River County Commission Chair, the local ballot return rate is lower than expected.

As of press time on Tuesday, only 18.88 percent of the mail ballots had made it back to the county Records and Assessment Office. On April 26, ballots were posted to 10,881 voters, but only 2,054 individuals have weighed in on the May 16 primary election choices.

“It’s kind of low unless we get a huge run over the weekend,” said Kim Haack, elections supervisor.

She said it is important for people to hand-deliver ballots to the county administration building, 601 State St., after Thursday. Ballots can also be dropped off at Cascade Locks City Hall, 140 WaNaPa Street, until 8 p.m. next Tuesday.

Haack said postmarks do not count and there are no guarantees that ballots mailed after May 11 will arrive in time. She said one ballot that was locally stamped for May 2 arrived in the county office one week later.

“If you want to be sure that your ballot gets counted then don’t mail it this weekend,” she said.